When things reach an extreme, they can only reverse: Summer Solstice
This week marks the summer solstice, where "solstice" means "extreme," signifying the day with the strongest yang energy. Simply put, it's when the sun is closest to directly overhead in the Northern Hemisphere, making it the longest day of the year. While this season doesn't necessarily mean the hottest weather, the yang energy is at its peak. When yang reaches its extreme, yin begins to grow, and just as things at their peak inevitably decline, the body can easily fall ill during this transition of yin and yang.
The principle of yin-yang balance in the body is like how we dress: wear more when it's cold, and fewer clothes when it's hot, to maintain a normal body temperature. It's easy to accidentally catch a cold when changing clothes. After the peak of summer, protecting yang energy can help reduce illness in winter.
During the summer solstice, the body's yang energy reaches its peak. Because qi and blood rise and ascend together, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular problems and heatstroke are most likely to occur. At this time, it is advisable to clear away summer heat. For nourishing the heart and clearing away summer heat, the three-leaf tea is the best choice: lotus leaf, lophatherum herb, and peppermint leaf. Use three grams of each, steep in hot water for five minutes, and it's ready to drink. This tea helps clear heat, relieve summer heat, reduce inflammation, promote fluid production, and soothe restlessness.
Lotus leaf is bitter in taste, neutral in nature, and enters the heart, liver, and spleen meridians. It can clear summer heat, promote diuresis, and lift clear yang. Lophatherum herb is sweet in taste, cold in nature, and enters the heart, stomach, and small intestine meridians. It can clear heat, relieve restlessness, and promote diuresis. Peppermint leaf is pungent in taste, cool in nature, and enters the lung and liver meridians. It can disperse wind and heat, clear the head and eyes, and soothe the liver and regulate qi.
Tip: When using the various portable small fans sold on the market, try to avoid blowing directly on your head. As yang energy rises and then gradually recedes, it's easy for yin pathogens to invade and cause a cold.
The principle of yin-yang balance in the body is like how we dress: wear more when it's cold, and fewer clothes when it's hot, to maintain a normal body temperature. It's easy to accidentally catch a cold when changing clothes. After the peak of summer, protecting yang energy can help reduce illness in winter.
During the summer solstice, the body's yang energy reaches its peak. Because qi and blood rise and ascend together, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular problems and heatstroke are most likely to occur. At this time, it is advisable to clear away summer heat. For nourishing the heart and clearing away summer heat, the three-leaf tea is the best choice: lotus leaf, lophatherum herb, and peppermint leaf. Use three grams of each, steep in hot water for five minutes, and it's ready to drink. This tea helps clear heat, relieve summer heat, reduce inflammation, promote fluid production, and soothe restlessness.
Lotus leaf is bitter in taste, neutral in nature, and enters the heart, liver, and spleen meridians. It can clear summer heat, promote diuresis, and lift clear yang. Lophatherum herb is sweet in taste, cold in nature, and enters the heart, stomach, and small intestine meridians. It can clear heat, relieve restlessness, and promote diuresis. Peppermint leaf is pungent in taste, cool in nature, and enters the lung and liver meridians. It can disperse wind and heat, clear the head and eyes, and soothe the liver and regulate qi.
Tip: When using the various portable small fans sold on the market, try to avoid blowing directly on your head. As yang energy rises and then gradually recedes, it's easy for yin pathogens to invade and cause a cold.